Wonder Woman (2017)

Last updated:
June 12, 2025

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman (2017) marked a major milestone for superhero cinema, bringing the first major female-led superhero movie in the modern era to the big screen with resounding success. Blending mythology, World War I history, and comic book storytelling, this film gave the legendary DC character Diana Prince her origin story in a thrilling and emotionally grounded way.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Themyscira: The Island of the Amazons

Diana, Princess of Themyscira (played by Gal Gadot), grows up on a hidden island inhabited by the Amazons, a race of warrior women created by the gods to protect humanity. She is trained in secret by her aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright), and becomes the island’s most skilled warrior. Diana learns of a great enemy named Ares, the god of war, who is prophesied to return and destroy mankind.

The peaceful life of Themyscira is interrupted when Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), an American spy, crashes near the island. He’s being pursued by German forces, leading to a battle between the Amazons and the invaders. Upon hearing about the “war to end all wars,” Diana believes Ares must be behind it and decides to leave her home to stop him.

London and the Frontlines

Diana and Steve travel to London, where Diana encounters the rigid norms of patriarchal society with humor and confusion. They assemble a team of unlikely heroes — Sameer, a spy; Charlie, a marksman; and The Chief, a smuggler — to accompany them into war-torn Europe.

Meanwhile, German General Ludendorff and the sinister chemist Doctor Isabel Maru (a.k.a. Doctor Poison) are developing a deadly new gas that could prolong the war indefinitely. Diana becomes convinced that Ludendorff is Ares in disguise and believes that killing him will end all conflict.

The No Man’s Land Scene

One of the most iconic and emotional moments of the film occurs when Diana steps onto the battlefield at No Man’s Land. Ignoring Steve’s pleas, she crosses into enemy fire alone, deflecting bullets with her gauntlets and leading a charge that liberates a nearby village. It’s a powerful metaphor for hope, courage, and agency.

The Reveal: Who Is Ares?

Diana finally confronts and kills Ludendorff but is devastated when the war does not end. She begins to question her beliefs and her mission. However, the real Ares is then revealed to be Sir Patrick Morgan (David Thewlis), a British official who has been subtly influencing mankind toward destruction. He tries to convince Diana that humanity is inherently corrupt and unworthy of saving.

As Ares unleashes his full power, Diana initially struggles to fight back. During this climactic moment, Steve sacrifices himself by hijacking a plane filled with deadly gas, flying it high into the sky and detonating it to save thousands. His final words to Diana are muted at first but later revealed in a flashback: “I can save today. You can save the world. I wish we had more time. I love you.”

Fueled by grief, love, and clarity, Diana defeats Ares in a visually spectacular battle, choosing to believe in the goodness of mankind.

Movie Ending

After defeating Ares, the influence of his power fades. The German soldiers come to their senses and the war ends. Diana stands victorious but heartbroken, mourning Steve’s death yet having grown into her role as Wonder Woman. She understands that humanity is flawed but still worth fighting for.

The final scenes show Diana returning to her current time in Paris. She receives a message from Bruce Wayne, who has returned her old photo — a relic of her past in World War I. Inspired by the memory of Steve and the people she helped save, she dons her armor once again and leaps into action as Wonder Woman.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Wonder Woman (2017) does not include a mid-credits or post-credits scene. This was in contrast to Marvel Studios’ trend, and it stood on its own as a self-contained story.

Type of Movie

Wonder Woman is a superhero action film with strong elements of war drama, mythological fantasy, and romantic adventure. It’s both an origin story and a coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of World War I.

Cast

Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
Chris Pine as Steve Trevor
Robin Wright as General Antiope
Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta
David Thewlis as Ares / Sir Patrick Morgan
Danny Huston as General Ludendorff
Elena Anaya as Doctor Poison
Ewen Bremner as Charlie
Saïd Taghmaoui as Sameer
Eugene Brave Rock as The Chief

Film Music and Composer

The film’s score was composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams, incorporating the now-iconic electric cello Wonder Woman theme introduced in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The soundtrack blends dramatic orchestration with tribal and mythological elements, fitting the tone of both Themyscira and the grim WWI battlefields.

Filming Locations

Italy – Scenes set on Themyscira were filmed in southern Italy, particularly along the Amalfi Coast, giving the island its paradisiacal look.
United Kingdom – The majority of the war scenes and London sequences were filmed in various parts of the UK, including London and Southend-on-Sea.
France – Some of the battlefield scenes and village locations were shot in northern France.

These locations were carefully chosen to contrast the lush, mythic beauty of Themyscira with the muddy, grey horror of World War I Europe.

Awards and Nominations

Wonder Woman was widely acclaimed and received numerous accolades:

Nominated for Best Action Movie (Critics’ Choice Awards)
Won Best Action Movie Actress (Gal Gadot) at the Teen Choice Awards
AFI Awards listed it as one of the Top 10 Films of the Year
Received multiple nominations for visual effects, costumes, and direction at various technical awards ceremonies

Behind the Scenes Insights

Gal Gadot was five months pregnant during reshoots and wore a green screen belly to allow VFX to work around it.
Director Patty Jenkins became the first woman to direct a major superhero movie and broke box office records for a female director.
Chris Pine and Gal Gadot reportedly improvised several of their lighter, more comedic moments.
The trench sequence (No Man’s Land) was almost cut from the script because the studio didn’t believe it was necessary. Jenkins fought for it — and it became the most iconic scene.
Many Amazons were played by real athletes and fighters, and underwent rigorous training.

Inspirations and References

Based on the DC Comics character Wonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston, who also helped invent the lie detector — hence the Lasso of Truth.
The character and film draw heavily from Greek mythology, particularly the myths surrounding Ares and the Amazons.
The film’s war themes borrow visually and narratively from classic war epics like Saving Private Ryan and Paths of Glory.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While the core ending remained unchanged, several scenes were trimmed or reshaped:

A deleted scene showed Etta Candy leading the team on a post-war mission to recover a magical artifact.
Another cut moment involved Diana and Hippolyta having a longer goodbye.
The final battle originally had different staging and dialogue between Diana and Ares, but was reworked to focus more on emotional stakes and less on pure action.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie loosely follows Diana’s comic origins, though it blends different versions:

In the comics, Diana’s father varies — sometimes Zeus, sometimes made from clay. The movie opts for the Zeus origin.
The setting is changed from World War II (in the original comics) to World War I to give the story a more mythic and morally grey backdrop.
Steve Trevor’s fate differs in some versions of the comics — in this film, his sacrificial death plays a crucial role in Diana’s evolution.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Diana’s training montage on Themyscira
Steve Trevor crash-landing and being saved
Diana’s first time in London, encountering modern fashion and bureaucracy
The No Man’s Land battle
Steve’s farewell and explosion
Diana unleashing her full power against Ares

Iconic Quotes

“I will fight, for those who cannot fight for themselves.”
“Only love can truly save the world.”
“It’s not about deserve. It’s about what you believe.”
“Goodbye, my love. I wish we had more time.” – Steve Trevor

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Diana’s alias in the museum is “Diana Prince,” a callback to her comic book name.
The Amazons speak dozens of real languages, showcasing their global knowledge.
The photo Bruce Wayne sends her is the same one featured in Batman v Superman.
Steve’s wristwatch becomes a key symbol — a timepiece that metaphorically stops when he dies.

Trivia

Gal Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat trainer, adding authenticity to her physicality.
Patty Jenkins turned down directing Thor: The Dark World before taking on Wonder Woman.
The film was banned in Lebanon due to Gadot’s Israeli background.
The movie grossed over $820 million worldwide, becoming the most successful film ever directed by a woman at the time.

Why Watch?

Wonder Woman isn’t just a superhero movie — it’s an empowering, emotionally rich journey with real heart. It breaks genre conventions, features a strong and nuanced female lead, and blends mythology with history in a uniquely compelling way. Whether you’re a fan of comics, war dramas, or character-driven stories, this is a film that resonates far beyond its explosive action scenes.

Director’s Other Movies

Monster (2003)
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Wonder Woman (2017)